"Bedad, and he'll think me a coward if I don't go," said Dinny, panting. "Sure, and what are ye thrimbling about? D'ye call yourselves legs, and go shakking undher a boy like that? Faix, I'm ashamed of ye! Go along, do; and it isn't me that's freckened, but me legs!" He mastered his dread and ran swiftly after Bart, who had once more reached the sandy trench. "I thought you'd come, Dinny," said Bart. "You're not the lad to leave a mate in the lurch." "Thrue for ye, me boy; but are we to tak' him back in the boat?" "Yes, it's the captain's orders." "Howly Pater, but it's dreadful work!" said Dinny. "Then let's get it done," said Bart, stolidly; and he drew off the lid of the rough case. "Come, lad, let's lift the poor fellow quickly into his coffin and act like men." "But didn't ye fale him move, Bart, lad?" whispered Dinny. "No. What foolery!" growled Bart. "Fancy!" "Divil a bit, sor! I just touched him," whispered Dinny; "and he worked his toes about, and thin give quite a kick." "Bah!" ejaculated Bart. "Bedad, but he did!" whispered Dinny. "Wait a minute. The poor boy don't like it, perhaps. If we only had Father McFadden here!" "What are you going to do?" "Shpake to him," said Dinny, trembling; "and the blessed saints stand bechuckst me and harm!" he muttered, fervently. "Abel, me lad--captin, don't ye want to go?" There was a dead silence. "Shpake to us, me lad, and say _no_ if you don't; and we'll respect your wishes." The silence that followed Dinny's address to the dead was broken by an impatient ejaculation from Bart. "Come on!" he said. "Do you take me for a fool? Lift, man, or I'll do it myself!" Thus adjured, Dinny went once more to the foot of the shallow trench, and stooped down. "Now, then, together!" said Bart. "The dead can't hurt the quick." Dinny thrust his hands down in the sand on either side of the rolled-up canvas, made as if to lift, and then, as his hands met, he uttered another yell and fell upon his knees. Bart started away as well, and stood in the dim light, trembling. "There! Didn't you fale him move?" whispered Dinny, who was shaking violently. "Captin darlin', we were only obeying ordhers. Sure, and we wouldn't disthurb ye for all the world if ye didn't want to come. Don't be angry wid us--it was ordhers, ye know; and av coorse ye know what ordhers is." "Did--did you feel it too, Dinny?" said Bart, hoarsely. "Did I fale it! Sure, and he worked his toes again, and then give a bigger kick than ever!" "Dinny," cried Bart, passionately, "the poor fellow has been buried alive!" "Buried aloive!" said Dinny. "Yes; he has come to. Quick, uncover him!" "Buried aloive! And it isn't a did man kicking again' being disthurbed in his grave!" cried Dinny, changing his tone and springing up. "Howly Pater! why didn't ye say so before? Here, have him out at wanst!--the poor boy will be smothered wid the sand! Quick, me boy! quick!"